Nvidia Posts Voluntary Recall For Overheating Shield Tablets (Updated)

If you were one of the many people who bought Nvidia’s Shield Tablet sometime between July 2015 and its initial release date in July 2014, you might want to consider sending it back to Nvidia. The company announced a voluntary recall of the device due to reports that the tablets could overheat, which is a potential fire hazard.

The recall seems to affect only a certain type of battery used in some tablets. Before sending it in, users need to verify if their tablet is actually eligible for a replacement by going to Settings and then selecting the About Tablet area and checking Status. If the text under the Battery category is "B01," then you’re safe, but if it reads "Y01," then you will need to fill out a form to turn it in.

However, this doesn’t mean you lose the tablet completely. After sending your defective copy back to Nvidia, the company will provide a new Shield tablet, so all you need to do with the old device is update the software and back up your data.

So far, details are slim as to why a specific group of batteries have this issue, but as always, it’s better to be on the safe side than run the risk of literally burning out your Shield Tablet. We’ve reached to Nvidia for further details and will update accordingly.

Update, 7/31/2015, 11:45 am PDT: Nvidia reached out to us for more details about the recall. Shield Tablets with the Y01 batteries are the older version of the two batteries. The replacement tablets will have the new B01 batteries installed.
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  • de5_Roy
    LOL.

    and here's a correction:
    If you were one of the many people ...
    should be "very, very few people..." :pt1cable:

    it's bad enough that nvidia got it's butt kicked in the tablet and smarphone soc market, now it's being forced to do recalls. not good for p.r.
    and this is the company that loves to brag about sales figures and marketshares.

    it's good that nvidia is trying to get in front of the problem.
    Reply
  • WFang
    I'm more interested in the new Shield Tablet... I had hoped to read some release notes on it by now (rumors claimed July 29th release).
    Reply
  • atomicWAR
    thanks for the info...sadly this is my second replacement. My first shield had the cracked corners..which led to pieces of plastic molding falling out. My second one did the same but the pieces never came off so i left good enough alone until now. I checked my tablet to see i had a Y01 battery. Anyways the recall process is painless and easy for those like me!
    Reply
  • Wisecracker
    ...it's good that nvidia is trying to get in front of the problem.
    This is likely all on the battery manufacturer but it is good they are being pro-active. They really stunk-it-up on that laptop graphics recall 5 years ago and got seriously (and deservedly) scorched by the professional manner in which Apple handled things.

    HP & Dell did not come off smelling like roses in that one, either.

    edit: I fergit ... It's been reported that this effects roughly 88,000 units.

    Reply
  • rantoc
    Overheating in a cramped down device.,.. unheard of LOL
    Reply
  • CRITICALThinker
    I have an affected tablet, but considering it has been left in a bag, running Mortal Kombat X for a half hour in 25 degree + weather because the game opened as I closed my screen protector, it will be fine for the 2-4 weeks until the new one comes. I will still be using this tablet, but I have removed the case, and will be attending its charging from now on.
    Reply
  • loki1944
    Definitely disappointed in Nvidia's QC negligence here; though I feel that way for any mobile device that ends up as a fire hazard since it can affect many people like on a flight or something. Mine hasn't lit up or anything, but still very, very disappointed in Nvidia for being so sloppy.
    Reply
  • loki1944
    16367017 said:
    Overheating in a cramped down device.,.. unheard of LOL

    It's not just overheating; it's fire hazard.
    Reply
  • griffon9
    Damn my stock is down. Had to sell it but will buy again before the quarterly report!
    Reply
  • rantoc
    Bet the battery is not replaceable? Meaning after about 1000 recharges the battery time is down by a lot and the buyer is stuck with it... no thx!
    Reply